Late trains? Make the most of an extended journey

A late train can happen for many reasons. It’s up to you to make the most of an unexpected delay.

It’s no secret — and it shouldn’t be a surprise — that sometimes North American overnight long-haul passenger trains can run hours behind schedule. Here’s are tips for making the most of an extended journey.

The reasons for passenger train delays are frequently discussed in Trains Magazine. Late trains often result from a combination of factors, including severe weather, mechanical failures, insufficient crews, rail congestion, conflicting approaches to infrastructure design, allocation, and capacity (plus funding for improvements), and grade crossing and trespassing incidents. How to solve these problems is a topic for another discussion.

An imperfect world

In a perfect operating environment, all trains would run on time. But no railroad is perfect. Years ago, an Irish friend and I were traveling by rail in Germany — a nation I’ve long admired for its excellent rail-infrastructure — when we encountered an unexpected problem. We had obtained day-passes for the Bavarian region and stopped in Kempten to explore the historic town and sample the local beer (which is among the finest, anywhere). We were staying in Buchloe, which is about only about 35-40 minute journey by Regional Express train, with scheduled services normally running about every half-hour.

On a good day, this is a very civilized way to travel. Seat reservations are unnecessary, and if you miss your intended train you won’t need to wait long for the next one. However, on this evening, we sensed that something was amiss when we arrived back at the station. We soon learned all the trains had been cancelled due to extreme wind: not just between Kempten and Buchloe, but all across Bavaria and most of Germany! Ultimately, a Munich city bus was summoned and we arrived back in Buchloe more than three hours later than planned (but we got there!)

Lest we beat up on train operators for their inability to maintain perfect timekeeping, I’ll remind travelers that when traveling by air, I’ve had flights cancelled, planes diverted, and luggage lost. When driving on the highways, I’ve encountered traffic jams, accidents, long detours, and serious delays from foul weather. I had so many problems on the roads it seems the only sensible response is to advocate for more rail investment.

As a rail traveler, you can become stressed or outraged by a train delay, or you can accept that long-haul passenger trains sometimes arrive late. As the saying goes, “late trains get later,” which is often true. In other words, if your train starts losing time, don’t expect it to make up time. Indeed, it may get later and later.

When your train loses time, why not embrace the potential for delay as part of the adventure? Look forward to the unexpected extra time you will spend riding the rails and find enjoyment out of what is unfolding. As my friend Walter E. Zullig said, “Since the situation is beyond your control, relax and think: ‘You’re getting more train ride for your money!”

It helps to be prepared for a late-running train. Amtrak offers a ‘Train Status’ feature on its website. I often use the third-party Intercity Rail Map app to track train performance, which covers Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada. You can use this to see if a train is running late, how fast it is moving, and when it is expected to arrive. It updates about every 4-7 minutes and is good tool to forecast if a particular service tends to hold its schedule or often runs later than advertised.

Avoiding disappointment

I view every rail journey as an opportunity to experience the railroad in action. More time spent on the train is more time on the railroad. A delay caused by rail congestion is opportunity to see more trains. In some situations, congestion may result in a detour allowing you to experience rare rail-mileage.

When making long journeys, I try to leave ample time between the scheduled arrival and any crucial engagements. I also make sure I keep my contacts updated in the event of delay. I always pack plenty of reading material, my laptop, and other things to occupy my time. It’s a good idea to bring some non-perishable snacks too.

Above all, I’d rather be on a late-running train than sleeping in an airport or, worse, finding myself wedged in traffic on the Interstate because a truck overturned and blocked all lanes. At the very least the railroad offers entertainment and conformable seat!